Grape Production Research Articles

Sustainability in Mountain Viticulture: Insights from a Case Study in the Portuguese Douro Region

Evaluations of the sustainability of the viticulture associated with wine production are still scarce in the literature. Usually, the ‘carbon footprint’ assumes the environmental dimension, while the economic pillar is focused on market orientation. In the present work, the integration of both was tested using a case study supported in a six-year series (2015–2021) of primary data from a farm in the Região Demarcada do Douro (Douro Demarcated Region, hereafter the RDD). Economic and environmental inputs and outputs were collected from ‘pruning to harvest’. Profitability was calculated based on the market prices and environmental impacts using the AgriBalyse database, which is available in OpenLCA 1.10.3. In the scope of the economic results, the following costs stand out: (1) ‘human labor’; (2) use of machinery; and (3) plant protection products. Concerning the environmental impacts, the greatest weight resulted from the use of fuels, and no relation was found between the grape production variation and environmental factor variation. The indicators studied were considered valuable for comparing production systems (conventional, organic, and biodynamic, among others) and might support stakeholders’ decision making. We highlight the importance of replication in further studies to better understand the complex world of viticulture’s sustainability.

Precision viticulture: Automatic selection of the regions of interest from moving wagon hyperspectral images of grapes for efficient SSC prediction

Precision viticulture is increasingly being applied to automate and optimize grape production in the vineyard. This paper describes the development of a method for automatic selection of regions of interest from hyperspectral images obtained of a row of vines and intended for prediction of soluble solids content. For this purpose, a dataset consisting of hyperspectral images of a row of ‘Sangiovese’ wine grapes was adopted. Hyperspectral images were acquired directly in the field by means of a hyperspectral imaging Vis/NIR system (400–1000 nm) mounted on a ground-based vehicle. The analyses were carried out on 17 different days, under clear or partly cloudy conditions, in the period between post-veraison and harvest. The vineyard row of Sangiovese vines was divided into 11 sections and a hyperspectral image for each section for each day of analysis was acquired. The regions of interest of the hyperspectral images, comprising the areas representing the grapes, were selected using a PLS-DA-based method. The best PLS-DA model provided excellent results, with sensitivity and specificity values of 0.991 and 0.996, respectively. The mean spectra of the selected regions of interest (ROI) were finally used to predict the soluble solids content (SSC) of the grapes by PLS regression to a primary reference analysis. The results of SSC predictions using the automatic selection of ROIs (R2CV = 0.74 and RMSECV = 0.86 °Brix) were on par with similar regression based on carefully manual selection of ROIs (R2CV = 0.73 and RMSECV = 0.87 °Brix).

Effects of Potassium-Containing Fertilizers on Sugar and Organic Acid Metabolism in Grape Fruits.

To identify suitable potassium fertilizers for grape (Vitis vinifera L.) production and study their mechanism of action, the effects of four potassium-containing fertilizers (complex fertilizer, potassium nitrate, potassium sulfate, and potassium dihydrogen phosphate) on sugar and organic acid metabolism in grape fruits were investigated. Potassium-containing fertilizers increased the activity of sugar and organic acid metabolism-related enzymes at all stages of grape fruit development. During the later stages of fruit development, potassium-containing fertilizers increased the total soluble solid content and the sugar content of the different sugar fractions and decreased the titratable acid content and organic acid content of the different organic acid fractions. At the ripening stage of grape fruit, compared with the control, complex fertilizer, potassium nitrate, potassium sulfate, and potassium dihydrogen phosphate increased the total soluble solid content by 1.5, 1.2, 3.5, and 3.4 percentage points, decreased the titratable acid content by 0.09, 0.06, 0.18, and 0.17 percentage points, respectively, and also increased the total potassium content in grape fruits to a certain degree. Transcriptome analysis of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the berries showed that applying potassium-containing fertilizers enriched the genes in pathways involved in fruit quality, namely, carbon metabolism, carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms, glycolysis and gluconeogenesis, and fructose and mannose metabolism. Potassium-containing fertilizers affected the expression levels of genes regulating sugar metabolism and potassium ion uptake and transport. Overall, potassium-containing fertilizers can promote sugar accumulation and reduce acid accumulation in grape fruits, and potassium sulfate and potassium dihydrogen phosphate had the best effects among the fertilizers tested.

Effect of Microbial Inoculants Endowed with Multifarious Plant Growth-Promoting Traits on Grape Growth and Fruit Quality under Organic Fertilization Scenarios

Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) have growth-promoting and disease-resisting effects and can be used as new types of plant growth promoters. This study was conducted to determine the plant growth-promoting traits of five strains and follow a 2-year field trial to evaluate their effects on grape growth and fruit quality. The five PGPB were combined with two organic fertilizers (cow dung fertilizer and distillers’ grain fertilizer) for application on grape fields; the control group only received the corresponding organic fertilizer. The five strains showed different growth promoting abilities, as indicated by their differing production of indole acetic acid (IAA) and siderophores and ability to dissolve phosphorus and potassium, fix nitrogen, and resist saline and alkali. During the field trial, vine growth and fruit quality were significantly better in the distillers’ grain fertilizer (high nutrient content) alone treatment than in the cow dung fertilizer (low nutrient content) alone treatment. However, after the two fertilizers were inoculated with the five different PGPB, only the five treatments with cow dung fertilizer inoculated with PGPB showed significant improvement. The five treatments of cow dung fertilizer inoculated with PGPB exhibited varied impacts on plant growth and fruit quality. And the promotion effects persisted significantly after two consecutive years. Among the PGPB, Bacillus velezensis 18, B. velezensis 20, and Rahnella aquatilis 5 emerged as consistently effective performers over the two-year period, demonstrating stable and commendable outcomes. These strains are recommended for prolonged application in grape cultivation to optimize growth and yield. This study provides a theoretical reference and an experimental basis for organic fertilizer inoculated with PGPB to improve grape production.

Competitive Immunoassay in a Microfluidic Biochip for In-Field Detection of Abscisic Acid in Grapes.

Viticulture and associated products are an important part of the economy in many countries. However, biotic and abiotic stresses impact negatively the production of grapes and wine. Climate change is in many aspects increasing both these stresses. Routine sample retrievals and analysis tend to be time-consuming and require expensive equipment and skilled personnel to operate. These challenges could be overcome through the development of a miniaturized analytic device for early detection of grapevine stresses in the field. Abscisic acid is involved in several plant processes, including the onset of fruit ripening and tolerance mechanisms against drought stress. This hormone can be detected through a competitive immunoassay and is found in plants in concentrations up to 10-1 mg/mL. A microfluidic platform is developed in this work which can detect a minimum of 10-11 mg/mL of abscisic acid in buffer. Grape samples were tested using the microfluidic system alongside benchmark techniques such as high-performance liquid chromatography. The microfluidic system could detect the increase to 10-5 mg/mL of abscisic acid present in real berry samples at the veraison stage of ripening.

Co‐production of agroecological innovations to improve sustainability in South American fruit farms

Abstract Agricultural intensification and expansion are the main drivers of biodiversity loss that continue to increase this century, especially in South America. International markets and global policy provide incentives and frameworks to address this, but these are unlikely to be effective unless farmers on the ground are enabled and motivated to respond to them by developing long‐term solutions that fit their production systems and local contexts. Here, we use a multi‐actor transdisciplinary approach to co‐design and test agroecological innovations suitable for intensive, exporting South American fruit farms. We focus on highly biodiverse regions experiencing habitat loss in the Mediterranean and dry tropical forest regions of Chile and Brazil, respectively. The innovations were designed to support local biodiversity without compromising productivity or quality. Fourteen farmers participated throughout the project, covering a total of 4178 ha of intensive table grape, mango and cherry production. All were under pressure from buyers to report action on biodiversity. Farmers worked with researchers and industry representatives through an iterative process of dialogues and workshops to select, co‐design and implement three agroecological innovations: perches for birds of prey, cover crops and native hedgerows. Farmers became engaged in monitoring their effectiveness and redesigning them to suit local contexts. We develop an extensive set of resources for ongoing dissemination, including an online sustainability metric to report the practices carried out. Eight farms continued to implement at least one agroecological innovation beyond the end of the project, motivated by its fit to their management system and their ability to report positive actions in their supply chains. Policy implications. Our model of knowledge co‐production demonstrates how transdisciplinary research in agriculture, fully localised in a particular food‐producing context, can enable farmers in the global South to engage with biodiversity conservation in response to top‐down market signals incentivising sustainability. We argue that many top‐down efforts to enhance the sustainability of food supply chains, whether through market incentives, voluntary codes or trade regulations, require locally based knowledge co‐production, in which multiple stakeholders from agriculture and the food industry can benefit from working with locally based researchers. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Effectiveness of Management Zones Delineated from UAV and Sentinel-2 Data for Precision Viticulture Applications

How accurately do Sentinel-2 (S2) images describe vine row spatial variability? Can they produce effective management zones (MZs) for precision viticulture? S2 and UAV datasets acquired over two years for different drip-irrigated vineyards in the Colli Morenici region (northern Italy) were used to assess the actual need to use UAV-NDVI maps instead of S2 images to obtain effective MZ maps. First, the correlation between S2 and UAV-NDVI values was investigated. Secondly, contingency matrices and dichotomous tables (considering UAV-MZ maps as a reference) were developed to compare MZ maps produced using S2 and UAV imagery. Moreover, data on grape production and quality were analyzed through linear discrimination analyses (LDA) to evaluate the effectiveness of S2-MZs and UAV-MZs to explain spatial variability in yield and quality data. The outcomes highlight that S2 images can be quite good tools to manage fertilization based on the within-field vigor variability, of which they capture the main features. Nevertheless, as S2-MZs with low and high vigor were over-estimated, S2-MZ maps cannot be used for high-accuracy input management. From the LDA results, the UAV-MZs appeared slightly more performant than the S2-MZs in explaining the variability in grape quality and yield, especially in the case of low-vigor MZs.

Towards a More Sustainable Viticulture

Grapevines in Argentina, Chile and South Africa are grown under high levels of solar radiation. The availability of this resource is an opportunity to implement agrivoltaics as a practice for climate change mitigation. This study was conducted during 2020-2021 to: i) compare the legal framework in these countries to promote photovoltaic (PV) technology, ii) analyze the integration of PV technology with viticulture, and iii) evaluate its social acceptance. To analyze the regulatory framework, national and regional laws to promote the integration of PV technology with viticulture were evaluated. The PV technology and viticulture practices adopted were evaluated through a survey in ten vineyards located in Argentina, Chile, and South Africa. Social acceptance of PV integration with viticulture was evaluated in a participative process. The main facilitators common to the three countries are the availability of the solar resource, the scenario of legislative transformation related to the production of renewable energies, and the reduction of production costs in the long term for wine companies. Although there have been advances in the regulatory frameworks, especially in Chile and Argentina, agrivoltaics is still not mentioned. This, coupled with limited local experience of agrivoltaics in vineyards, limits communication of the potential benefits in grape, wine, and energy production.

HPLC Analysis of Vitamins C, E, Beta-carotene, and Some Flavonoids in Armenian Red Wines

Background: Oxidative damage to biological molecules is mainly caused by free radicals produced in the body. Natural antioxidants can prevent the resulting oxidative stress. For this purpose, particularly grapes and grape products, which contain vitamins and polyphenolic substances with high antioxidant activity, are used. Methods: In the present study, the content of vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, and some flavonoids (+)-catechin, quercetin, and trans-resveratrol) in the composition of 19 brands of red wines that are produced in Armenia, was determined by HPLC. Vitamins C, E, beta-carotene, as well as flavonoids manufactured by Sigma-Aldrich were used as standards. Results: The amounts of vitamin E and beta-carotene were below the sensitivity threshold of the method, and the content of vitamins C and flavonoids varied over a wide range (vitamins C 2.15- 56.1, (+)-catechin 0-620.3; quercetin 0-10.55; trans-resveratrol 0-5.89 mg/L). Conclusion: The chromatographic analysis of vitamins and flavonoids allowed us to investigate not only the content of useful substances that make up red wines but also to identify counterfeit products. In this study, wines presented directly to retailers were analyzed since the task was both to determine vitamins and flavonoids and to identify counterfeits. The results of our study showed that among all the selected wine brands, there were no samples that, in terms of their properties, would not meet the required parameters.

The function of source-sink relationships in grapevines on grape and wine production

The function of source-sink relationships in grapevines on grape and wine production

Geographical location influence ‘Cabernet Franc’ fruit quality in Shandong province

Grape quality is a key factor in determining wine quality, and it depends not only on management skills, but also on the geographic location of the producing area. In China, Shandong is the province with the largest wine production, and ‘Cabernet Franc’ is widely planted. This study evaluated the ‘Cabernet Franc’ fruit quality in relation to geographical conditions in five ‘Cabernet Franc’ producing districts of Shandong province, China, including Dezhou Aodeman Winery (DZ), Tai’an Zhongqingsongshi Winery (TA), Penglai Longhu Winery (PL), Rushan Taiyihu Winery (RS), and Rizhao Taiyangcheng Winery (RZ). At the time of veraison and maturity, fruit was harvested from five areas, and compared for cosmetic and internal fruit quality. The soluble sugar content in the Rizhao area was rich, and the weight and volume of single fruit were relatively large. The titratable acid of the berries in Tai'an area was high. RNA-seq analysis showed that the number of genes in the véraison stage was 19,571–20,750, and the number of genes in the mature stage was 19,176–20,735. The analysis found that areas with multiple high-quality characteristics tended to have more DEGs (differential expressed genes). And the DEGs in different areas were mainly distributed on chromosome 7, and at least on chromosome 15. DEGs in 5 areas were enriched on 855 GO terms and 116 KEGG pathways during berries development. Among them, it was found that the up/down-regulation of DEGs was related to the formation of berry quality, which helps to explain the impact of environment on grape quality components. In summary, this study is helpful to understand the influence of cultivation location on the quality of 'Cabernet Franc' in different production areas in Shandong province, and further provide a reference for the production of high-quality wine grapes and winemaking.

РЕАЛИЗАЦИЯ ПРИОРИТЕТНЫХ НАПРАВЛЕНИЙ НАУЧНО-ТЕХНИЧЕСКОЙ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ «ВННИИВиВ «МАГАРАЧ» РАН» В ОБЛАСТИ ВИНОГРАДАРСТВА В 2023 ГОДУ

Research is presented that contributes to an increase in the production of domestic grape and wine products, including in the system of organic farming. The object of research is grapes of native, classical and breeding varieties. The research was carried out on the basis of the Center for collective use of the Ampelographic collection «Magarach», as well as in industrial plantations of the Crimea according to generally accepted and original methods. Characteristics of 50 varieties for the database, 4 sources of valuable traits were obtained, genotyping of wild grapes was performed, 99 allele variants were identified. Optimal concentrations of substances for the development of proembryogenic calluses and cells in suspension cultures were selected. The influence of biologically active substances on the development of heart shaped and torpedo shaped embryos has been established. The obtained 6 transgenic lines of the Podarok Magaracha variety were adapted to in vivo conditions to assess their cold resistance and frost resistance. In the vegetative collection of plants in vitro, samples are maintained under conditions of active and slow growth. An aseptic culture of 14 grape varieties was obtained. The molecular diagnosis of the latent form of phytopathogens of plant material after the recovery procedures was carried out. The biovar Agrobacterium tumefaciens was identified by the method of molecular diagnostics. During molecular diagnostics, the Rupestris stem pitting virus was detected in the samples. New knowledge has been gained about the dynamics of changes in the quality indicators of grapes depending on the variety and region of cultivation against the background of a complex of agro-climatic parameters and indices used to isolate terroirs. Varietal-rootstock combinations have been identified. The formation of datasets has continued in order to train neural networks for the detection of harmful organisms and pathologies of the development of grape plants. The technology of organic viticulture production for autochthonous varieties and varieties of the Magarach Institute breeding has been tested. The technology of storing table grapes based on the use of calcium-containing preparations has been optimized. For the first time, an information technology of cross-platform integration has been developed for the implemented hardware and software complex for photo-fixation and neural network detection of the number of pests in specialized «traps».

Climate Change, Pressures, and Adaptation Capacities of Farmers: Empirical Evidence from Hungary

This paper aims to analyze comprehensively the climate exposure, sensitivity, perception, adaptive capacity, vulnerability, and resilience of the Hungarian agricultural sector, particularly focusing on fruit, vegetable, and grape producers. Four distinct Hungarian case studies were examined, representing different regions with diverse environmental and socioeconomic conditions. The research combined quantitative and qualitative methods, including statistical and GIS analysis of climate, agricultural, and socioeconomic data, as well as field research and semi-structured interviews. The study investigated exposure, sensitivity, perception, and adaptation, leading to the identification of key components and influencing factors. Qualitative research revealed that farms operating in geographically close proximity, in the same regulatory and support environment, can have different adaptive capacities. In the current state of the adaptation process, the extent to which farmers can rely on supportive professional networks and seek out and adopt new practices is crucial. Field experience suggests that without a strong and supportive producer organization (extension network), farmers may prefer to resort to extensification (afforestation) to mitigate production risks. From a development policy perspective, it is worthwhile to present good practices and provide information on possible adaptation techniques through existing local sectoral organizations.

Classification of sustainability potential of genetic resources of local grapevine varieties in Serbia

The starting point for every viticultural and wine-producing country with respect to local grapevine varieties is their identification, inventory, preservation and development of genetic resources of those varieties. There are currently 224 grapevine va?rieties cultivated in Serbia for the purpose of commercial production of grapes and wine. Out of that number, 31 wine varieties are local. Vineyards under those varieties can be dif?ferentiated by their importance for production of grapes and wine, and by the level of their endangerment, that is, sustainability in conditions caused by climate changes. This paper presents the creation, that is, the modeling of the Method for Vineyard Sustainability Clas?wine grapevine varieties on grounds of their endangerment and sustainability, based on 20 examined and categorized individual vineyard sustainability parameters; to carry out comsification (MVSC). The purpose of MVSC classification is: to valorize vineyards with local prehensive classification into one of the four established vineyard sustainability classes (Class A - very endangered vineyards, Class B - endangered vineyards, Class C - sustainable vineyards and Class D - very sustainable vineyards); spatial identification and presentation of vineyards based on determined vineyard sustainability class through application of GIS technology; and finally, application of Network Analysis (NA), prioritization of examined parameters and, therefore, vineyards. A total of 10,402 vineyards under local grapevine wine varieties were used for modeling, and it was determined that 29 vineyards with the total surface of 1.2 hectares should be classified in Class A, while 2,883 vineyards with the total surface of 158.2 hectares should be classified in Class B. With respect to the strength of 20 individual vineyard sustainability parameters, it was determined that the parameter Structure of the vine rootstock (SVR) has the greatest impact, and priority in selection of vineyards in different sustainability classes should be given to vineyards without rootstocks. In accordance with the scientific justification of obtained results, the MVSC enables comprehensive clas?sification of the potential for sustainability of genetic resources of local grapevine varieties in Serbia, and it can be applied in other countries and wine-growing areas, as well as to other groups of grapevine varieties.

Failures count too: effect of the application of commercial inoculum of arbuscular fungi in a vineyard during its plantation

Symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) has long been recognized for its positive impact on plant health. Today, various companies market AMF-based commercial inoculants as biofertilizers or biostimulants for sustainable agriculture. However, their consistent efficacy in real-world field settings remains uncertain. This study investigated the influence of a commercial AMF inoculant on a newly planted vineyard featuring a local grape cultivar grafted onto a common rootstock (‘Ritcher 110’). Over two years, the physiological well-being, growth, and productivity of 20 inoculated vines compared to 20 control counterparts were monitored. The impact of inoculation on soil bacterial diversity and the infectivity of soil was assessed. Notably, AMF-inoculated plants exhibited consistently lower values in photosynthesis, growth, and grape production, although statistical significance was not always reached. Additionally, the total production remained unaffected, but there was a significant decrease in °Brix and pH values, suggesting delayed grape ripening in mycorrhizal plants, potentially promoting secondary metabolites accumulation. Regarding soil effects, the inoculation's impact was slight, with no substantial changes in soil mycorrhizal infectivity and only slight shifts in the microbial community's metabolic profile. Numerous studies highlight the context-dependent nature of AMF inoculation's effects, making it challenging to predict outcomes in field conditions. Failures found in trials like the present one provides valuable scientific information, contributing to determine the prerequisites for effective biofertilizer use in commercial viticulture. Ultimately, the effectiveness of AMF-based biofertilizers remains contingent on specific conditions, exposing the need for additional research to ensure their consistent and reliable application.

New Host Plant Species of Grapevine Virus A Identified with Vector-Mediated Infections.

Grapevine virus A (GVA) is an economically important virus and a member of the genus Vitivirus (family Betaflexiviridae) that causes a range of symptoms with qualitative and quantitative effects on grape production. Wild and domesticated species of Vitis, including hybrids used as rootstocks, are considered important natural hosts of GVA. Mechanical transmission to some herbaceous plant species, graft transmission, and vector transmission from grape to grape by various mealybugs and soft scale insects have been reported. Under laboratory and greenhouse conditions, this study demonstrates the transmission of GVA from grapes to alternative hosts by the vine mealybug (Planococcus ficus). Results of ELISA, end-point one-step RT-PCR, and real-time RT-PCR, and in some cases electron microscopy and genome sequencing, confirmed successful transmission to three new plant species commonly found in Croatian vineyards: velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti), redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus), and field poppy (Papaver rhoeas), along with Chenopodium murale and the previously known host Nicotiana benthamiana, with variable infection rates. Depending on the host species, symptoms in the form of leaf reddening, yellow spots, reduced growth of lateral shoots, systemic vein clearing, foliar deformation and rugosity, and dwarfism were observed in GVA-infected plants, whereas no symptoms were observed in infected plants of A. theophrasti. Reverse transmission from these new hosts to grapevines by Pl. ficus was not successful. These results confirm four new GVA host species and open new research venues.

Practical method for table grape selection using multicriteria decision análisis

The São Francisco Valley (Pernambuco-PE, Brazil) is of great importance for the local economy, since the region represents a large portion of Brazilian production and export of fresh grapes. Traditional methods of feasibility analysis involve only cost or productivity analyses, but for the grape growers there must be techniques and methods that assist decision making involving other criteria with characteristics of the grape. Yet, there is a noticeable lack of multi-criteria methods that assist the grower in making decisions for selection of commercial table grape cultivars for the feasibility analysis. Thus, the aim of the present study is to select table grape cultivars through multiple criteria, using a new method for eliciting scale constants: the Flexible and Interactive Tradeoff (FITradeoff), for the purpose of assisting a rural producer to expand production while minimizing inconsistencies in the decision-making process. With the assistance of a decision maker, the Decision Matrix and Consequence Table were constructed on Microsoft Excel® – composed by 11 criteria and 3 alternatives, all closed source grape cultivars (with patents). Then, the data were applied on the FITradeoff software for the ranking problematic. Thus, it was possible to arrive at a ranking of the best alternatives, where the cultivar Timpson (SNFL) (U2) was found to be the optimal solution proposed for the rural producer. The application of FITradeoff provided a satisfactory result with little time and effort spent, leading to a final suggestion for the decision maker. In addition, at the end of the process, it provided graphical visualization of the performance and dominance of each criterion selected, as well as a ranking of the grape cultivars through the Hasse Diagram, with the order of the best alternatives. Ordering the grape genotypes considering Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis methods is crucial to selection of commercial table grape cultivars. The method can be applied to other segments of agriculture that require multi-criteria evaluations.

Produção e qualidade da uva Niágara rosada (Vitis labrusca L.) produzida com e sem cobertura plástica

The objective of this work was to evaluate the productivity and quality of Niagara rosada grape grown without and with plastic cover. Analyzed variables: leaf area (af), sprouting index (Ib) and fertility (If), bunch mass, bunches per plant and yield, bunch quality (Type 1 and 2), total soluble solids (ºBrix). The experiment was carried out in the 2022/2023 harvest, in a 5-year-old vineyard, with spacing of 1.5 between plants by 2.5 m in the row, located in the municipality of Bento Gonçalves/RS, Serra Gaúcha, with two treatments, T1 - environment without cover, T2 - environment with impermeable plastic cover, a randomized block design was used, with 6 plants per treatment. Treatments did not differ for ºBrix, Ib, If, bunch mass, bunches per plant and estimated production per ha. Harvesting the grapes in the plastic cover delayed the harvest by two weeks. As for the qualitative factor, T1 obtained for Type 1 grapes, 81% of the production/ha and treatment T2, 98.5%, grapes that have superior quality. The production of Niagara rosada under the plastic cover did not differ in terms of the production of T1, but presented a higher added value due to the higher % of production of superior quality grapes.

A history of olive and grape cultivation in Southwest Asia using charcoal and seed remains.

Evaluating archaeobotanical data from over 3.9 million seeds and 124,300 charcoal fragments across 330 archaeological site phases in Southwest Asia, we reconstruct the history of olive and grape cultivation spanning a period of 6,000 years. Combining charcoal and seed data enables investigation into both the production and consumption of olive and grape. The earliest indication for olive and grape cultivation appears in the southern Levant around ca. 5000 BC and 4th millennium BC respectively, although cultivation may have been practiced prior to these dates. Olive and grape cultivation in Southwest Asia was regionally concentrated within the Levant until 600 BC, although there were periodic pushes to the East. Several indications for climate influencing the history of olive and grape cultivation were found, as well as a correlation between periods of high population density and high proportions of olive and grape remains in archaeological sites. While temporal uncertainty prevents a detailed understanding of the causal mechanisms behind these correlations, we suggest that long distance trade in olives, grapes and their associated products was integral to the economic, social, and demographic trajectories of the region.

Precision viticulture: Tool for production of quality grape

Precision viticulture: Tool for production of quality grape